Can Renewable Gasoline Keep Older Cars on the Road? Toyota and BMW Launch a Real-World Test in Spain

A new six-month pilot project in Spain is putting renewable gasoline to the test in everyday driving. Toyota. BMW, Bosch, and Repsol have teamed up to see if existing cars can run on fuel made from renewable sources without any modifications. The goal is to prove that this fuel can cut emissions right now, using the same vehicles and gas stations we already have.

Twenty production-spec Toyota and BMW cars are being filled with Repsol’s Nexa 95, a 100% renewable gasoline made from waste feedstocks. Bosch’s digital tracking system, called the Digital Fuel Twin, monitors every drop to certify the fuel’s lifecycle. The data collected will be shared with European policymakers to show that so-called VEEF vehicles, those running exclusively on eligible fuels, can help decarbonize mobility at scale.

Toyota Europe’s Pascal Ruch explained that renewable fuels can bridge the gap if the 2035 zero-emission target proves too ambitious, especially when paired with hybrid technology.

Spain was chosen because Repsol is currently the only company offering 100% renewable gasoline at public pumps there. The pilot has three main aims: proving the fuel is available and works with existing infrastructure, showing that digital tracking can verify its use, and demonstrating that fleets can switch to it overnight.

Repsol’s Estíbaliz Pombo called the project a step toward a technology-neutral approach to Europe’s mobility transition. If successful, the fuel could offer an alternative to ethanol blends, which aren’t always safe for older engines. And while this trial targets Europe, a cost-effective, clean fuel could eventually catch on in other markets too.